There’s Something Happening Here

Down on the market

I met Carolan Deacon at Mill Mountain Coffee in downtown Roanoke. She’s a friend, we were in a play together (Miracle on 34th Street, Attic Productions 2019) and a creative marketing/ songwriter person. Valley Business FRONT has written about her before and there’s an update in this issue on her company. Had an Americano and a scone. VBF Publisher Tom Field wandered in to distribute copies and said hi (a total coincidence).

When Carolan and I split I stopped into the Deschutes tap room and Market Street and had one. Enjoyed the John Denver playlist on Pandora they had playing. (Yes, I admit it). But before I did that, I bought 12 oz. of Ethiopian coffee beans from Ben at the Farmer’s Market and his White Wagon Coffee Roasters company. In his “spare time,” Ben is an OR Nurse at LewisGale, where I’m sure the staff appreciates coffee.

Then these hand painted tiles in colorful homemade frames caught my attention. Artist Rod Hemmings is an English Chap living in Buchanan. There’s a piece of fabric (from a family heirloom dress) baked into the tile and he painted over that to give it some texture. I liked the story, so I bought the $25 mounted tile; the handmade frame in the burnt orange was nice also. F&R Arts he calls it.

Before running back to the car, where my two-hour free parking had just expired, a sign outside On the Rise Bakery listed Tomato Cheddar soup on what was still a chilly early afternoon. Bought a pint; didn’t know until I got home they had tossed in two small rolls. Bonus and great for dipping.

So, what’s the point you say? It was just me realizing that I don’t get to downtown Roanoke enough to enjoy the City Market and other amenities, although I’m no stranger to downtown – and I know how to sniff out free parking. I had a couple of great hours; it was sunny on the Market and pumped about 50 dollars back into the economy to mostly local small businesses. Imagine if more of us did that, or a little more often, what it would mean to these shop owners … especially in these times.

Gene Marrano

THERE’S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE

By Gene Marrano

Executive Summary:

We (I) need to do this more often. Shop and eat local.